Thursday, March 31, 2016

Female Osprey (L) has a streaked breast. Male (R) has an almost clear breast.

The difference between the female Osprey's breast marking and the male's relative lack of breast marking is clear in this image from the Osprey cam.

If you are watching the nest cam and cannot see the breast of the Ospreys, these two have another distinguishing feature. The male has a distinctive partial eye ring that breaks up the dark eye stripe behind the eye. The female's eye ring is narrower and in some views almost invisible.

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

The first task for Ospreys returning to their nest site is to repair and improve the nest. In addition to making a better nest the activity reestablishes the bond between the pair.

Before our volunteers installed the camera the old nest and platform were replaced with a new platform better able to support the camera. As with all of the other Osprey platforms we've replaced a small amount of grass and sticks were added as starter material.

Just added a screen capture from the nest with male and female Osprey labelled.

The Audubon Shop posted this about the Osprey this morning

Concerning Osprey: "Within populations, females average about 15–20% larger in body mass than males, and 5–10% longer in wing, tail, claw, and bill length. In addition, females tend to have fuller, darker breast-bands and darker heads than males, although this varies among populations." (excerpt from an article by Alan F. Poole)Generally people look for what is referred to as the "necklace" of darker feathers on the breast of the female as an easy way to distinguish them.

Since we love contests. Pat W. suggested we offer a contest to the first person who sees the male offer his fish to the female...thereby re-establishing their relationship after the long winter's absence. So again if you see that happen, snap a screenshot orsend us the date/time and we can find it and you will win an Audubon tote.